CRTC Silencing Loud TV Commercials

Starting on September 1st, the CRTC is requesting that Canadian digital broadcasters and distributors hit the volume controls to prevent excessively loud TV ads.

Jean-Pierre Blais, Chairman of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission reiterates: “Canadians will be able to enjoy their favourite television programs without having to adjust the volume during commercial breaks. We appreciate the efforts undertaken by the broadcasting industry to conform to the new standard and ensure that programs and commercials are transmitted at a similar volume.”

Canadian broadcasters must now adhere to an objective international standard for measuring and controlling television audio levels to minimize fluctuations. However, since the US has until the end of the year to adopt the standard, Canadian viewers watching the over-the-air signals of American television stations may still be exposed to louder ads.

The move follows the 7,000 complaints registered with the CRTC in 2011.
Viewers are being encouraged to complain directly to broadcasters if they think advertisements are still too noisy, and follow up with the CRTC if the problem continues.

Comments

That great news, But that problem is not just on ads, they are also between channels.

Now if providers could equalize volume between channels that would be perfect. On most channel my TV volume is set to 5, but some on channel the volume is lower, I have to make my volume higher up to 15 or 20 sometime. Some other channel they are louder, I have to lower my volume to 1.

Even on Galaxie the volume is not the same between channels, but the worst ones are FM radios.